A beer color (SRM) calculator estimates the color of your homebrew by analyzing the grain bill using Morey's formula. SRM (Standard Reference Method) is the standard scale brewers use to describe beer color, ranging from pale straw at 2 SRM to opaque black above 30 SRM. Knowing your expected color helps you design recipes that look as good as they taste and match style guidelines.
Batch Details
Grain Bill
Color Results
| Grain | Weight | Lovibond | MCU | % of Color |
|---|
Color values are estimates based on Morey's formula. Actual beer color may vary with boil time, water chemistry, mash pH, and other factors.
SRM Ranges by Beer Style
| Style | SRM Range | Color | Visual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilsner / Light Lager | 2 – 4 | Straw to Gold | |
| Wheat Beer | 3 – 6 | Straw to Gold | |
| Pale Ale | 5 – 10 | Gold to Amber | |
| IPA | 6 – 14 | Gold to Copper | |
| Amber Ale / Red Ale | 10 – 17 | Amber to Brown | |
| Brown Ale | 15 – 22 | Copper to Dark Brown | |
| Porter | 20 – 35 | Dark Brown to Very Dark | |
| Stout | 25 – 40+ | Very Dark to Black | |
| Belgian Dubbel | 10 – 17 | Amber to Brown | |
| Barleywine | 10 – 22 | Amber to Dark Brown |
How to Use the Beer Color (SRM) Calculator
Beer color tells a story before the first sip. Whether you are brewing a pale golden lager or a pitch-black stout, knowing the expected color of your beer helps you design recipes that match style guidelines and look appealing in the glass. Our free SRM calculator uses Morey's formula to estimate the Standard Reference Method color value from your grain bill, giving you a visual preview and numerical readings in both SRM and EBC.
Step 1: Set your batch volume
Enter your final batch volume in gallons or liters. This is the volume of wort going into the fermenter, not the pre-boil volume. The batch volume matters because the same grain bill produces a lighter color in a larger batch and a darker color in a smaller one. A standard homebrew batch is 5 gallons (19 liters), but adjust this to match your system.
Step 2: Build your grain bill
Click "Add Grain" to create entries for each malt or specialty grain in your recipe. For each grain, select a preset from the dropdown or type a custom name. Enter the weight in pounds or kilograms and the Lovibond rating. The Lovibond value represents how much color the grain contributes. Base malts like 2-Row Pale have low ratings around 1.8 degrees Lovibond, while roasted malts like Chocolate Malt can be 350 degrees Lovibond or higher. You can find Lovibond ratings on your grain supplier's website or packaging.
Step 3: Read the results
The calculator instantly displays the estimated beer color as a numeric SRM value, an EBC equivalent, the total MCU (Malt Color Units), and a visual color swatch showing approximately what the beer will look like. The per-grain breakdown table shows how much each grain contributes to the overall color. Use the beer style reference table to compare your result against standard style guidelines and verify your recipe falls within the expected range.
Understanding Morey's formula
Morey's formula is the industry standard for predicting beer color from a grain bill. It first calculates MCU by summing the product of each grain's weight in pounds and Lovibond rating, then dividing by the batch volume in gallons. The formula then applies a power curve: SRM equals 1.4922 times MCU raised to the 0.6859 power. This non-linear relationship accounts for the diminishing visual impact of adding more dark grain to an already dark beer. The formula is accurate across the full SRM range from pale straw to opaque black.
All calculations run entirely in your browser. No brewing data is stored or transmitted to any server, keeping your recipes completely private. Bookmark this page for quick access on brew day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this SRM calculator really free?
Yes, the SRM calculator is completely free with no limits and no account required. All calculations run locally in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is sent to any server or stored anywhere.
Is my brewing data safe and private?
Absolutely. Every calculation happens entirely in your browser. No grain bills, recipes, or any other data is transmitted to any server, stored in any database, or shared with anyone.
What is Morey's formula?
Morey's formula is the most widely used equation for estimating beer color from a grain bill. It calculates SRM as 1.4922 times MCU raised to the power of 0.6859, where MCU (Malt Color Units) is the sum of each grain's weight in pounds times its Lovibond rating, divided by batch volume in gallons.
What is the difference between SRM and EBC?
SRM (Standard Reference Method) and EBC (European Brewery Convention) are both scales for measuring beer color, but EBC uses a different range. To convert, simply multiply SRM by 1.97 to get EBC. A pale lager at 2 SRM is about 4 EBC, while a stout at 35 SRM is roughly 69 EBC.
What is the Lovibond rating on a grain?
The Lovibond rating (°L) measures the color contribution of an individual grain or malt. Lighter grains like Pilsner malt have low ratings around 1.5-2 °L, while specialty malts like Chocolate malt can be 350 °L or higher. Your grain supplier lists the Lovibond value on the product page or packaging.
How accurate is the SRM color prediction?
Morey's formula provides a reliable estimate used by most homebrewing software. Actual color can vary based on factors like boil length, water chemistry, mash pH, and late extract additions. It is accurate enough for recipe design and predicting whether your beer will be gold, amber, or dark brown.
What SRM is an IPA or pale ale?
An American Pale Ale typically ranges from 5 to 10 SRM, giving it a gold to light amber color. An American IPA usually falls between 6 and 14 SRM, ranging from deep gold to copper. The color depends on the specialty malts and crystal malts in the grain bill.
Can I add more than 8 grains to my grain bill?
The calculator supports up to 8 grain additions, which covers the vast majority of homebrew recipes. Most beer recipes use 2 to 5 different grains. If you have an unusually complex grain bill, you can combine similar grains into one entry by summing their weights.